Korean Air to launch Incheon-Irkutsk service

28 June 2011

Korean Air has announcedthat it will launch new regular flight services from Incheon International Airport in Seoul to Irkutsk, one of the biggest cities in Siberia, known for its continental architecture, and gateway to an area famed for its natural beauty.

Starting from 29 June, Korean Air will operate two flights a week on the Incheon-Irkutsk route, utilising a B737-800 aircraft seating 145 passengers in two classes. Operating every Wednesday and Saturday, flight KE983 departs Seoul Incheon at 20:35 and arrives in Irkutsk at 00:45 early the next morning. The return flight KE984 departs Irkutsk at 03:00 and returns to Seoul Incheon at 06:30 the same morning. The new Korean Air service ensures that travellers visiting Irkutsk can fly there with utmost comfort and ease via its award-winning hub, Incheon International Airport.

Geographically located at the border of Russia and Mongolia, Irkutsk is the biggest city in Eastern Siberia and the economic and cultural centre of the Irkutsk Oblast region. The city is a popular tourist destination and the starting point of tours to the massive Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, also known as the ‘Blue Eye of Siberia’. Lake Baikal is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake can be enjoyed year-round and as the waters remain cool even in the middle of the summer season, tourists from all over the world visit for various touristic resources, its nature trails and its lake-side activities.

The addition of Irkutsk to the route network means that Korean Air will serve five destinations in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region including Moscow, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg and Tashkent (Uzbekistan). This latest route supports the airline’s continued commitment to provide passengers with a wider range of options for their international air travel needs.